How to Pair Your BlackBerry PlayBook to a Smartphone

At any time you can pair a BlackBerry smartphone to your BlackBerry PlayBook. This is one of the key differences between this tablet and the others.

The process of pairing uses a utility called BlackBerry Bridge. You can think of this as using your PlayBook as a window into the contents of your BlackBerry smartphone: contacts, phone numbers, calendar, and other information.

The Bridge allows you to use the cellular facilities and some of the data on your BlackBerry smartphone to extend the PlayBook tablet.

Configure other (important but optional) items, including the BlackBerry Desktop Software.

Feel free to configure your system right now, but if you’re like most people you’d like to start playing with your PlayBook right now. That’s fine; once the system has been updated with the latest operating system you can start putting it through its paces.

You can deal with each of the configuration steps — including the BlackBerry Bridge, the BlackBerry Desktop Software, the browser, and other apps — when you need to use them.

The initial setup includes some basic lessons you can go through onscreen.

The setup process includes a brief tutorial on how to use touchscreen gestures and some configuration option details.